Stencil-cutting machine



Aug. 19, 1924, 1,505,337

s. HARTQG STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 19, 1924. 1,505,337

s. D. HARTOG STENCIL CUTTING'MACHINE Filed Jan. 2s, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 19 1924.

1,505,337 S. D. HARTOG l STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE lFiled Jan. 23 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 /m7eman Mrs @wf/7gg@ Aug. 19, 1924.

S. D. HARTOG sTENGIL CUTTING" MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 23,*1922 ug, i9 1924. 1,505,337

s. D. HARTOG STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE V Filed Jan. 25 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 MINI! 1 25 of the operation of Patentes Aug. 19, 1924..

' u sT-'Ares 1,505,337 PATENT -oF-FicE.

i STEPHEN D. EAnToe, or nnLLEviLLE, ILLINoIs, AssrGNon gro JOHN w. mms3, or

` BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS.` Y

. srnNcrL-currrNG'nAcnmE.

To all whom t may concern. iBe it known that l, STEPHEN D HARTOG, 'a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing atl Belleville, St. ClairV County, and State of 5 Illinois, have invented anew and useful Stencil-Cutting Machine, of which the followlng is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvementsin stencil 'cutting machines, -and consists in the novel construction hereinafter disclosed.

An object of the invention is toprovide 'of the frame includes a central support '4 a stencil cutting machine designed sothat the work vwill be visible to the operator. Another object of the invention is to prol5v vide a machine of the class described having the operating Ymechanism for the paper feed and stencil cutting operations arranged below the base frame of the machine.

Yi/.tnother'object of the invention is to pro-f" vide in a machine of the class described .l operating mechanism that may be operated veither by a right hand or a leftv hand operator, said operating mechanism being so disposed so thatthe facili and rapidity the mac e Will be increased. Y Y

Another object of the invention is to improve in a machine of the class Vdescribed the Work feeding mechanism. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the -following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figi 1 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 2'is a bottom plan view of themaf "china A,

3 is a vertical section through the mac lune. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the work feeding mechanism and the stencil cuttingfmechanism. v`

Fig. 5 ris a vdetailedview of one ofthe die supports and guides. Y

Figq is a plan View of the same element. Fig. 'Z is atransverse section through the work feeding mechanism. Y f Y Fig. 8 is a detailed view of a portion of the work feeding mechanism.

Fig. 9

device.

Y Inthe Vembodiment of the invention illus- `trated in the Vdrawings the base Yframe of the machine is shown as comprising a casting 1 having anextension 2 for supporting secured to the 'to the outer periphery of the dial member -19 is a series of character indices 22,' and is a detailed view of the stripper,

theo erating mechanism. The base of the machine is substantially semi-circular in vform and is suitably reinforced by ribs 3,

as clearly shown in the drawings, so as to provide a rigid frame for supporting the stencil cutting mechanism. An extension .2 of the frame is integrally formed therewith providing a suitable support for the Work.v

feeding and the operating mechanism for the stencil cutting mechanism. Thebase for one end of. a spindle 5 wl;1'icl;1 -y is rigidly` mounted therein. yThe spindle v cih-Vries a. hub casting 6 to which is secure'd an'annular die carrier 7, said die carrier 7 being made up. of a central annular iiange 8, a webbed section 9 and an outer annular ring 10. The flange 8' matches the hub 6 and is screwed thereto by a series of screws 11, thereby forming Ya rigid connection between .75 the die carrier an the hub 6. Above the die v carrier is a circular plate 12 constituting Y the punch carrier. A hantl wheel13 with a depending fiange 14 is arranged to be punch carrier, there being provided on the iiange 14 of the hand wheel a horizontally disposed iange 15 that fits over an annular boss 16 carried by the plate 12. A series of screws 17 passing through the Yflange 15 and intothe annular boss 16 serves to secure vthe two parts together.

The upper end of the spindle 5 is formed with a reduced portion 18 over which isy fitted a character dial-carrying member 19. The member 19 is in rigid connection with the spindle `5,'being secured thereto by a screw 2() bearing against a washer' 21,- thev screw 20 being threaded into a threaded opening in the end of the spindle. vAdjacent arranged on the inner wall of the'ange 14 of thehand wheeleis a pointer Aelement 23 adapted, in cooperation `with the dial, to indicate the position of the respective sten cil cutting character punch and dies. In order to faciiitate the rotation ofthev punch and diecarrying; elements a ball bearing structure 24 is mounted intermedi# ate the lower face of .the hub 6 and. the upper face of the support i. Y

It Iwill be understood Ythat the huh d is ro tatabiy mounted upon the central portion of f the spindle and that by means of the hand wheel 13 the hub 6, together with the punch and die carriers, will be rota'ted to bring the selected punch and die members in position in respect of the work for the stencil cutting operations.

The stencil cutting punch elements 25 arc mounted in an annular equally spaced series punch elements being separately secured to` the carrier by bolts 26 passing through the on the under face of the punch carrier 12 adjacent to the periphery thereof, the said wall of the carrier 12.

The outer ring of the die carrier has a channel 27'formed therein so as to constitute a .bifurcated die support including the lower Wall 28 and the upper wall 29.

It Will be noted that the upper face of the wall 29 is inclined, thepurpose of which is to deiiect the cuttings from the Work so that the wastel material 1vill pass downwardly through the frame of the machine interference with: the operating parts of the .ranged in spaced relationship machine.

The die element is shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6 and includes a die support in the form of a U-shaped member 30 having a side flange 31 and an extendedl fiange 32 defiected downwardly forming a tang 33. The die late 34 is screwed to the upper face of the ange 31 and the extension 32, the opening in the die .plate being over the channel of the U-shaped member 30 so that the waste material cut from the work will pass downwardly into the space between the side walls-of themember 30, striking the inclined face of the wall 29. The die 1ne1nber further includes a shank 35, said shank having a groove 36 yformed therein, anda reduced portion 37 terminating in a pointed extremity 38. The die members are mounted in the die carrier with the shank passing through spaced openings in the walls 28 and 29. or each die memberthere is provided a strong expansion spring 39 disposed intermediate the under face offthe wall 29 and a split washer 40 mounted in the groove 36, the normal tendency of the spring being to hold the die element in depressedy position. When the die elements are. mounted in` the die carrier the extensions 32 extend inwardly and the tangs 33 extend down- Wardly into and through openings 41 .arin the annular flange 8 of the die carrier. The cross dimension of the tangs is such that the side edges thereof bear against the walls of the openings 41, thus preventing rocking motion of the die elements in their supports whereby the die elements are guided to maintain them in proper cutting alinement with'the punch elements.

It will be understood that by operation of the hand wheel 13 selected pairs of the punch and die elements are brought to the cutting point and the cutting operation performed by elevating the die element toward the punch element. The operating mechanism for effecting the upward movement of the respective die elements` comprises a block 42 slidably mounted in a space between the walls 43 and 44 that arestationary parts of the end frame of the machine. The

block 42 has a shank 45 that connects into a foot 46, said foot 46 extending inwardly subjacent to the lowerend of the die element that is positioned at the cutting point. The foot 46 has a notch 47 in its upper face, said notch 47 conforming to the contour of the pointed extremity of theV die element, so that when the lfoot is raised into contact with the end of the die element the shank thereof will be centered and preserved in vertical alinement for pressure against the corresponding punch element.

The mechanism for raising the foot 46 into contact with the shank of the die elements includes. toggle links 48 and 49, the extremity of the link 48 being pivoted to a bracket 5() extending inwardlyfrom the wall Y i 43 of the end frame. The upper extremity of the link 49 is pivoted to a studv51, said stud 51 being secured to the block 42 near its upper end. The toggle links 48 and 49 are pivoted together and to a link 52, said link 52 being pivoted to a rocker arm 53. The rocker arm 53 is mounted on a transverse shaft 54, said shaft 54 being journaled in the side walls of the end frame and having extensions beyond the side walls of the endframe at either side, `thereby providing at each side of the machine a mounting for a removably attached operating handle 55. Provision is madev for mounting the handle -55 either o-n the-right or left end of the shaft so,that the machine is adapted for convenient operation by either a right or l left hand operator.

The rocker arm 53 has a hub 56 that has a segmental cut-out portion 57, and the shaft 54 carries a pin 58 that operates within the cut-out portion lof the hub 56 to provide a 10st motion to delay the action of the die operating mechanism in respect ofthe operation of the work feeding mechanism, as

will. be made clear from further description hereinafter. V

In so far as the operation of the mechanism for elevating the die elements/is concerned, it is sufliclent at this point to sa, thatI after the handle is depressed throug foot 46 carried there the zone of the cut-out portion,.the pin 58 makes contact with the wall of the hub 56, thereby causing a forward'movement of the rocker arm 53 which, through the medium of the link 52, spreads the togglelevers 48 and 49, the end of the lever 49 moving upwardly'thereby movin the block 42 and the lay. l Separate movement of the foot 46, after the end of the shank of the die element has centered in the notch 47, elevates the'die element into couV tact with the corresponding punch element,-

cutting the character in the Work. After the cutting operation has been .performed the handley is released and returned to n'ormal position by a `spring 54a attached to the shaft 54 and a relatively. stationary part of the frame, and the die element, throu h the action of the s ring 39 is depresse In order to insure t e depression of the die element a release device in the form of an angular strip 59 is attached to the forward part of the foot 46, said strip extending upwardly and having a finger 60 extending into 'the space between the top and lower walls of the cutout .portion 37 of the shank 35.- Thus, if there is a tendency of the die element to stick in its elevated position, the finger 60 will contact Vwith the bottom wall' of theA cut-out portion 37 and -pull the die element downwardly as the footl returns to normal or depressed position.

The paper feeding mechanism includes a carriage comprising a work supporting table 61 to theunder face of which is attached a feed bar 62, said feed bar 62 having side channels therein in which are received the edges of walls 63 and 64 constituting a stationary part or upper wall of the end frame of the machine, the feed bar 61 being -slidable .with respectv to the walls `63 and 64.

The Work, in the form of a rectangular sheet 65 of .stencilmateriah is placed on the work supporting table 61 and is held in position by means of a clip device comprising a plate 66, with a` downwardly deected and expanded inner extremity 67, said plate being hinged to a bracket 68 rising from the upper outer face of the work supporting table 61. A spring device 69 tends to depress the outer extremity 67 in pressure contact with the uplelr face of the stencil cutting material. A ger knob 70 is provided on the top wall of thefplate 66 for elevating the clip device for the insertion ofthe Worx.

The mechanism for stepping the carriage transversely across the machine for feeding the work to the cutting point comprises an escapement mechanism including a rack 71, an escapement pawl 72 and .actuating mechanism forthe pawl. The pawl 72 is pivotally 'mountedbn a stud 73, said stud, being carried by4 the free end of a lever 74, the lever 74 being pivoted atA 75 to a relatively stationary part of the machine. A spring `porting carriage.

76 of the retractile type is connected at one end to a stud 77 carried by the frame of the machine and at the other end to a pin 78 on the side face of the lever 74. A second l spring 79, ,also of the retractile type, is attached to said pin 78 at one end and at the other end to a pin 80 carried by the p'aw172. The hub of' theI pawl 72 carries a pin 81 which together with a pin 82 on the side face of the lever 74 constitutes a return stop device for the pawl. The stud 73 has sliding connection in a slot 83 in theend of a leverj 84, said lever 84 being pivoted at 85 to a relatively stationary part of the machine. The operation .of the mechanism for elevating the lever 84 and thereby causing the operative'- contact of the pawl with the teeth of the rack 71 for stepping the carriage across the machine is accomphshed by means of .a cam 86 carried by the main-operating shaft 54l of the machine. The cam 86 contacts with a pin 87 carried by the lever 84.

As the operatlng handle is depressed the main operating'shaft 54 is rocked, caus' the cam 86 to contact with the pin 87 thereby raising the lever 84 causing the upward arcuate movement of the pawl 72 into engagement with the rack teeth and the latent of the work superal stepping movem The escapement mechanism is arran edso that the position of the work s-accomp hed beforethe stencil cutting operation becomes, effective by reason of the fact that there is a retarded operation of the stencil cutting mechanism, due to the lost motion of the pin., 58 in the cut-out segment 57 of the hub 56.

That is to say, the first movement of the handle downwardly operates the esca ement mechanism, positioning the work at t e cutting-point, and the further depressionjof the handle causes the cutting operation. When the handle' is released both the work feeding mechanism and the stencil cutting mechanism are returned to normal position.

In order to provide for the manual lateral adjustment of the work supporting carriage handles 88 are provided at each side thereof.v

A stripper'device for stripping the work fromv the punchand die elements and also for guiding the work comprises the member shown in detail in Fig. f9. This member is formed from a .flat strip of materialbent upon itself to form leaves, the lower one of which has a projection 89 that is screwed to the under face of-'the wall 64. From the projection 89 the member extends forwardly forming the leaf 90 that has a 'cut-out portion 91 so that the die element may pass through said cut-out portion in its upward movement. l The plate is then turned at 92, being deflected backwardly. forming an upper leaf 93. The upper leaf 93 has a cut-out portion 94 through which the punch element extends and the extremity of the upper leaf is deected upwardly at 95 so as' to form a guide way for the work. Obviously, after at the'cutting point.

cuttingoperation if the work has a tendency to adhere to the die element as that element moves downwardly through the lower leaf of the' stripper, the work will be released from the die -restoring it to normal position It will be noted by .reference toFig. 1

.that the upper wall of the frame' of the machine is sli htly extended at a point adja- I cent to the Juncture of the end frame forming en angular upper wall at either side of 'tlie punchand die carriers. It will be noted of the sheet of stencil cutting material.

also that there is rovided on this upper wall a series of score lmes 96, whereby the inward adjustment of the work may be determined. From thev foregoing it will be understood that the operation of the machine is brieiy 'as follows :The work, in the form of stencil point, the indices'22 and the pointer 23 be-S ing utilized for that purpose. Depression of the handle 55 first steps the carriage 61 one interval laterally, and a further depression causes .the operation of the cutting porting mechanism in the manner described in detail in the foregoing specification. The release of the handle results in restoration of the mechanisms to initial positions.

It will be observed that all of the operating structure is subjacent to the work supcarriage and that there is a clear iield o vision by the operator to the cutting Y point so that the point on the work can be observed before the performance of the cutting operation.` Itwill also be noted that provision for maintaining accurate alinement of the punch and die elements is made so that the machine will accomplish accurate'work. It may also be noted that the adjustment of.

the machine for bringing the selected set of lunch and dieelements into-cutting position 1s such that the machine may be operated veryrapidly. It will also be observed that y yprovision is made for stripping the work tationsv of the invention. I do not restrict from the punch and die elements in such manner as to prevent any damage to the 'work sheet.

I am aware that modifications in the struc.

ture may occur tov those skilled in the art, which modifications will be within the limimyself therefore to the exact structure shown and described.

lower one of said carriers, .an actuator for moving the die element upwardly toward punch elements when the same are the brought to the cutting point, operating mechanism for moving said actuator upwardly, a ,work supporting carriage, escapement mechanism for said carriage, an operating shaft for operating said escapement mechanism and said actuator operating mechanism, and

-a handle for operating said shaft.

2. In a stencil cutting machine, the comi. I

bination with a main fra-me, of a. rotary-else;

ment including spacedvcarriers," an annular spaced series of punches carried on the ,un

der face'of the upper one o Asaid carriers,.

vertically movabledie elements mounted in the lower one of said carriers, a guide device in' connection with said die elementsfor preventing rotary movement thereof, an actuator for moving the dieelements upwardly?? 'toward the .punch elements when the same are brought to thecutting point, operating mechanism for moving said actuator" upwardly, a'work supporting carriage, escape-- mentmechanism for said carriage, an o per- -a-ting shaft for 'operatlng sald escapementmechanism and said actuator. operating shaft. f

' mechanism, and a handle for operating said 3. In a.l stencil cutting machine, the com-x i i bination with a main frame, of a rotary ele- 'ment including spaced carriers, an annular spaced series of punches carried on the under face of the upper one of said carriers, vertically movable die elements mounted in the lower one of said carriers, an actuator for moving the die elements upwardly to- Ward the lpunch elements when the same are brought. to the cutting point, a centering device between the actuator and the die elements for maintaining the punch elements in vertical alinement, operating mechanism for moving said actuator'upwardly, a'work supporting carriage, escapement mechanism for said carriage, an operatin shaft for operating vsaid escapement mec anism and said actuator operatin mechanism, and a handlel vfor operatmg sai shaft.

4:. In a Stencil bination with a main frame, of a rotary element` including spaced carriers, an annular spaced series of' punches carried on the un der face of the upper one of said. carriers, vertically mova'ble die elements included in the lower one of said carriers, a guide Adevice in connection with said ldie elements for cutting machine, the coms eratmg wheel for rotating said connection;

tuator for moving the die elements up- -Wardly toward the punch .elements when the same are brought to the cutting point, a censhaft for operating said escapement mech- 19 anism and said actuator operating mechanism, and a handle for operating Ysaid shaft. 5. A stencilcutting machine, comprising a frame; a punch carrier; a die carrier; a

mi rotatably mounted connection between said punch carrier and said die carrier whereby said carriers are supported in spaced relationship, the punch carrier above the die carrier,- said connections being rotatably supported in respect of thevframe; an opa pointer and dial construction for indicating the position of selected pairs of punchV and dies carried by said carriers at the cuttin point; a series of punch elements carrie by said unch carrier; a series of vertically movable die elementsl carried vby said die carrier; operating mechanism for operating the die elements positioned at the cutting point; a work supportin carriage;

escapement mechamsm for s ai carriage;

vand an operating rock shaft in connection with said die 'operating mechanism and said .escapen'ient mechanism whereb' the escape- -ment mechanism 1s stepped and ,-.erating mechanism actuated after the esthe die opcapement mechanism has o ted.

6. In a stencil cutting machine, a guide and stripper device comprising a metallic strip in thev form of spaced upper and lower leaves arranged to receive the work between them and having openings therethrough for the operation of the cutting die elements; inv

combination with a rotary punch carrier operating above said guide and stripper device, punch elements supported by said carl; rier'above the upper leaf of said guide and .stripper device, upwardly movable die elements supported below said 'de and stripper device, and'mechanism or operating said die elements through the openings in saidguide and stripper device to cooperate with said unch elements while the cutting point is visible to the operator.

7. In a stencil cutting machine, the combination of a stationary frame, a rotary carrier mounted on the frame, downwardly facing punch elements supported by the upper portion of the carrier, upwardly facing die elements supported =by the lower portion of the carrier and corresponding m ,number to the number of punch elements,

` .a stationary guide and stripper device sup.

ported by the frame extending between said die and punch elements and comprising upper and lower leaves between the die and punch elements and arranged to receive the work between theml andvhaving openings.

bination of a mainframe, a lateral extension from one side of saidframe, a rotary support within the main frame, a number of downwardly facing punch elements carried by the rota support, a number of die elements mounte in said, support-for movement toward and away from said punch elements, a carriage supported by said lateral extension for tangential movement relative to said rotary support, means for supporting the stencil work` on said carriage extended between said die and punch elements, mechanism supported by said lateral extension for raising said die elements to cut the work at points visible to the operator, and escapement mechanism operated as an incidentv to the operation of said last-named mechanism for stepping the carriage tangentially of the rotary support.

9. In a stencil cutting machine, the combination with a main frame having end frame extensions, of a stencil cutting mechanism rotatably mounted in the main frame,

a carriage supported on the upper'face of frame. for feeding anism, a main shaft operatively connected withA said, actuator for said escapement mechanism and with the'operatmg mechanisni' foi: said stencil cutting mechanism, e

and an'operating handle removably attachlable to said main shaft at either end thereof whereby the machine may be operated by a right or left hand operator.

10. In a stencil cutting machine,y the combination with a frame, of stencil cutting mechanism mounted in said frame, a carriage for stepping the work across thev cutting point of said stencil cutting mechanism, operating mechanlsm for said stencil cutting mechanism arranged below the upperface of the frame, actuating mechanism for said carriage,I a rock shaft, and connections betweensaid rock shaft for operating said stencil cuttin mechanism and said escapement mechanism..

11. In a stencil cutting machine, .the combination with a frame, ofv stencil cutting nism, operating mechanism for said stencil cutting mechanism arranged below the upper face of the frame, actuating mechanism for said carriage, a rock shaft, connections between said rock shaft for operating said stencil cutting mechanism and said escapement mechanism, and a stripper device for the work.

12. In a stencil cutting machine, the coin'- bmation with a frame, of stencil cutting mechanism mounted in said frame, a carriage for stepping the work across the cutting point of said stencil cutting mechanism, a clip device in connection with said carriage for holding the work in position on said carriage, operating mechanism for said stencil cutting mechanism arranged below the upper face of the frame, actuating mechanism for said carriage, a rock shaft, connections between said rock shaft for operating said stencil cutting mechanism vand said escapement mechanism, and a stripper device for the-work.

13. In a stencil cutting machine, the conibination with a frame, of stencil cutting mechanism mounted in said frame, a ca'rriage for stepping the work across the cutting point of said stencil cutting mechanism, a clip device in connection with said carriage for holding the workin position on said carriage,'a dial on the upper face v of the frame of the machine for alining the work in said carriage, operating mechanism for said stencil cutting mechanism arranged below the upper face of the frame, actuatmg mechanism for said carriage, a rock shaft, connections between said rock shafty for operating said stencil cutting mechanism and said escapement mechanism, and a strippendevice for the work.

14. In ya stencil cutting machine, a stationary frame; stencil cutting mechanism supported by said frame; a stripper device comprising a U-shaped plate extending between `the cooperative parts of the stencil cutting mechanism and having holes therethrough for operation on the stencil cutting mechanism; a carriage; and means on the carriage for supporting the work between the arms of said U-shaped plate in vposition for operation of the stencil cutting mecha@ msm.

15. In a stencil cutting machine, the com- 'bination with stencil cutting mechanism ;v of a carriage for feeding the work to the cutting pointv of said stencil cutting mechanism; and an escapement mechanism for said carriage comprising a rack on the carriage, a pawl, a lever ivoted to a relatively stationary part of t ey machine carrying said pawl, resilient means for holding said .lever andsaid pawl in-normal position for engagement with the rack, -a second lever havin pin-in-slot connectionI with said firstname lever and said pawl,"sa1d lever being ments rigidly supportedin said va roc erarm; an .o erating shaft in. conpivoted to a relatively stationary part of the machine, an operative shaft, a cam carried by said shaft, and connections between said last-named lever and said cam whereby upon the rocking of said shaft said escapement mechanism will 'be actuated to step the carriage across the machine.

16. In astencil cutting machine, a punch carrier; a die carrierdie elements movably supported in said die carrier' punch elements rigidly supported in sai punch carrier; an actuator for said die elements comprising a vertically 'slidable' block mounted in the frame of the machine; a foot carried by said block; a pair of toggle levers pivoted together and having one of said levers pivoted to the blockv and the other of said levers pivoted to a .relatively stationary part of the machine;va link pivoted to said toggle levers; -a rocker arm; an operating shaft in connection with said rocker arm; and av handle for. actuating said shaft. I

v idly supported in said punch carrier; an ac' tuator or saiddie elements comprisin vertically slidable block mounted in the rame of the machine; a foot carried by said block; a air of toggle levers pivoted together andJ having one of -said levers pivoted to the blcckand the other of said levers pivoted to a relatively stationary part of the machine; a link pivoted to said toggle levers; a rocker arm; an operating sha t in connection with said rocker arm; and a-han'- dle for actuatin said shaft.

18. In a stencil cuttin carrier; a die carrier; die elements movably"` supported in. said die' carrier' punch ele-V punch carrier; an actuator for said die elements comprising a vertically slidableblock mounted in the frame of the achine; a foot carried by said block; centering means between the foot and the die elements for preserving the die elements in vertical alinement' a pair of toggle levers pivoted together an having oneV of saidv levers pivoted to the block and the other of said vlevers ivoted to a relatively'stationary part of te machinealink pivoted to said toggle levers;

nection withsaid roc er arm; and a for actuating Vsaid shaft. I

'19. In a stencil cutting machine; a die carrier comprising a webbed annular niember. having spacedhorizontal walls atits periphery., the upper one of said walls havin aninclined upper face; a die element inc riding a shank, said shank being mounted in the Yperipheral walls of the :die carrier;

a spring .fon holding the die element norhandle machine, a punch mally in depressed position; and an actuator for moving the die element upwardly in oposition to said spring.

20. n a stencil cutting machine a rotary carrier having a pair of vertically spaced walls at its periphery, an annular series of U-shaped member .above said walls, a die plate detachably secured to the'upper ends of the arms of each of Asaid U-shaped members, 'stems in connection with the lower ends of said U-'shaped'members extending downwardly through both of said' walls `springs encircling said stems between sai walls and having their upper-'ends bearing against -the lower side of the up r wall, a utments on said stems engage by the lower ends of said springs, an element suported below said carrier, lever mechanism or. raising said element to engage the lower ends of said stems respectively to raise said stems and said dies in opposition to said springs, and a device in connection with said e ement for engaging said stems respectivel to lower them a ter they vhave been raise 21. In a stencil cutting machine, a rota carrier having a pair of vertically space-d walls at its periphery, an annular series of U-Shaped members above said Walls, a die plate secured to the upper ends of the arms of each of said members, stems in connection with the lower ends ot said U-shaped members extending downwardly through both of said walls, springs encircling said stems between said Walls andhaving their upper ends bearing against' the lower side o the upper wall, abutments on said stems engaged by the lower ends of said springs,

an element supported below said carrier,

lever mechanism for raising said element to engage the lower ends of said stems respectively to raise said stems and said dies in opposition to said springs, a device in connection with said element for engaging said stems respectively to lower them after they have been raised, and annular series of punch' elements corresponding to said die elements supported by said carrier, anda stationary guide and stripper device for the work'extending between said die and punch elements.

STEPHEN D. HARTOG. 

